THE INTEGUMENT-MAN 39 



The Integument-Man believes that any work, 

 to be of value, must be accurate ; and accuracy in 

 nature-study begets accuracy in science, when the 

 pupil takes it up later on. So do I. But the 

 child can be accurate only so far as it can 

 understand and comprehend : it must work in its 

 own sphere ; integuments are not in the child's 

 sphere. 



The Integument-Man is fearful of every word 

 that seems to imply motive or direction in plants 

 and the lower animals. " The roots go here and 

 there in search of food " is wrong because roots 

 do not " go." Seeds do not " travel." Plants 

 do not "prepare" for winter. I wonder, then, 

 whether water "runs" or winds "blow." This 

 mere verbal accuracy forgets that words are only 

 metaphors and parables, their significance deter- 

 mined by custom, and that the essential truth is 

 what we should search for expressing it, when 

 found, in language that is alive, unmistakable, 

 and conformed to best usage. 



The Integument-Man insists on "methods." 

 The other day a young man wanted me to 

 recommend him as a teacher of one of the 

 sciences in a public school. He explained that 

 he had had a complete course in this and in that; 

 he could teach the whole subject as laid down in 

 the books ; he knew the methods. It was evident 

 that he was well drilled. He had acquired a 

 fund of well-digested but unrelated facts. These 

 facts were carefully assorted and ticketed, and 

 tucked away in his mental cupboard as em- 



